Little Moments Like That

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

We're enjoying just hanging out and relaxing today. The kids are watching back-to-back-to-back-to-back episodes of Phineas & Ferb and playing with Tessa.

It has been beautiful and cool enough to enjoy lunch on the porch today.

Annah looks annoyed, but was really just sidwards glancing at Krampa being silly...

Tessie loves her books, and Annah likes to oblige her wishes. It amazes me watching Annah and how good she is with little ones. (I surely was never like that!) She loves babies and is really sweet and careful with them.

This afternoon the girls had a visit to Mindy to get their back-to-school haircuts. Except for my trimming their bangs, neither of them had even had a trim since she cut their hair last year--shame on me!

Sylvia enjoyed the way Mindy massaged her head when she washed and conditioned her hair. She just had her hair trimmed up a couple inches, and is keeping it long and all one length with bangs. Annah's hair is like mine and has a lot of natural curl, so she decided to get some long layers cut in while she is growing out her bangs. Mindy showed her how to scrunch the curl into it while under the dryer.

Ahhhhh...nice relaxing days...

Monday, August 8, 2011

Tincaps Baseball Game

This evening my Dad treated us to a Fort Wayne Tincaps baseball game. We had a good time! The stadium is now downtown and is super nice! They have a lot of great community sponsors and all kinds of fun activities going on during every pause of the game. Tonight was "Family Feast Night" and pop, popcorn, hotdogs, and pizza slices were all only $1 each. We were quite entertained, until it started to rain a little more than we liked. We left during the 8th inning. The Tincaps did not win, but it was a fun night for us anyway.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Cinderella?

The girls love playing with their baby cousin Tessa. She is at such a fun age right now, and everything she says and does is just adorable and/or hilarious.

Here, Tessa was trying to put the shoe from a Cabbage Patch Kid doll on Sylvia...It didn't quite fit, but she was satisfied enough.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Christmas Card Picture

After Annah's concert yesterday, we had a little caravan over to Indiana. Jeremy and Sylvia led and Annah, Caeden and I followed. We chatted back and forth on our walkie-talkies, and arrived at my parents' late in the evening. Jeremy is only staying for the weekend, but the kids and I will stay all week.

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For the past several years, we've taken the Mc Fam photo for Mom's & Dad's Christmas card on Thanksgiving weekend. After realizing it is somewhat stressful to get the tree up and decorated and all of us together and dressed up and smiling during the middle of a busy holiday weekend, and then realizing we can't really display the photo in our homes all year round with all the Christmas decor in it... Mom decided we should try to get one while we were all together during the summer!

The wind rain snuck up on us, but there were a couple nice ones.

I love my family!

Friday, August 5, 2011

ISU String Project Summer Camp

Annah attended a week long day camp through Illinois State University's String Project. She went each morning from 8:30 until noon and had Musicianship class, chamber ensemble rehearsal, a private lesson, and orchestra rehearsal each day. Today, after the last day of camp was completed, they put on a great concert.

The students were [going into] grades 4th through 8th. I think there were about 50 kids involved, playing violin, viola, cello, and string bass.

Twelve chamber ensembles each performed a piece to start the concert. This photo is the quartet Annah was a part of. She played 1st violin in it, and they played Festival March by Greig. She enjoyed getting to lead them.

Each chamber ensemble was to choose their group's name, and Annah's group chose the one she suggested, "Skating Rockstoppers." This came about because the cellist was skating around on two rockstops one day in between sessions, and Annah thought it was funny.

In Musicianship class the first day of camp, the students were put in groups and given an assignment to compose and notate a piece using items from the instructors' apartments as instruments. The second day the groups performed their compositions for each other and were judged. Two groups were chosen to perform their compositions, and Annah's was one of them.

The girls used spoons to play empty plastic bottles, pots and dishes, and Annah played a sandblock on a strap. It was obviously a fun experience for them.

The camp was divided into two orchestras, one for beginners, and an advanced. Many of the kids are part of the String Project either every summer or all year long. Annah has had 5 years of private lessons, but this was her first time playing in any kind of ensemble. She played 2nd violin in the advanced orchestra. (She is towards the left in bright green.)

Annah came out of camp grinning and so excited every day! She loved every part of the experience! We loved watching and hearing her!

"They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;
they make merry to the sound of the pipe."
- Job 21:12

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Puke Fast

While Annah has been at String Camp each morning this week, Sylvie and Caed and I have run errands and found air-conditioned places to go. Today, it was cooler and nice and we finally found a park not to far from campus. So, we played for a while...

We even rode on the merry-go-round! I spun them as fast as I could, and they said they were going "puke fast!" In fact, when they finished riding, Sylvia said her tummy didn't feel right. So, we had to go get her a smoothie to make it feel better.

Monday, August 1, 2011

LEGO magazine contest

Ever since Caeden started receiving the LEGO magazine, he has wanted to enter the monthly contests. This month, we finally took a picture of his project and sent it in. I think he's just excited to actually enter. And, I'm just glad to have a cute photo of my little LEGO guy...

Friday, July 29, 2011

Body Heaven Spa

Our creative children spent the day "pampering" us at the spa they created and operated! It was called Body Heaven, and was quite a complicated operation!

It started this morning, as coupons, signs, and a menu were created. A coupon stand was set up at the end of the kitchen counter, and we were encouraged to book appointments. The special of the day was the Kleenex Rub, and Krampa was the first to book his appointment for one of Annah's creations...

Krampa carefully considered the items on the "menu."

Sylvia worked hard all day, keeping the books, while Annah gave the Kleenex Rub.

When a customer chose a "Backscratch," that was Sylvia's job.

Krampa told her she could "quit that about tomorrow!"

Jeremy was the next patron to order the Kleenex Rub.

I think it was kind of an intimidating experience,
so I think he was glad Annah held his hand once it was all applied.

The Kleenex Rub had no actual rubbing, but consisted of tissue bits wet with warm water and placed around the face. Once they cooled, Jeremy asked if the "rub" was over.

Although the Kleenex Rub was the special of the day, I was a little afraid to have it done, so I chose the option 'Resting.' I got to lie on the soft bed for 10 minutes.

I believe the 'Backscratch' option was created with Jeremy in mind...

Aunt Erin chose a Back Rub, and specifically requested the karate-chop.

Uncle Travis also bravely used his coupon for a Kleenex Rub.
(I love how Annah looks like she's thinking, "What have I done?!")

After having the Kleenex Rub, Krampa suggested that the spa have an option where a warm wet paper towel covered the face. The "Paper Towel Sooth" was added to the menu. Uncle Travis chose this option. First, he had the "original" version...